Saturday, December 29, 2007

Advice, please!

I am preparing to teach a series on "Bible Basics" and would like to have my class learn a song with the books of the bible. I will be teaching to teens, but a kids song would work just fine.

Anybody out there have any recommendations? I know there are many versions out there, but I need to be able to purchase a cd so we can play and sing along.


Thanks in advance!

Friday, December 28, 2007

Home Sweet Home

Well, after a great Christmas week visiting family, we've made it back home, tired but in one piece. Though I'm glad to be home, it's always sad to say goodbye when you feel you'd just arrived. I'll be holding on to these Christmas memories:


My hubbo's wonderful family


Reliving childhood fun on Christmas Day


We gave Billy his own blanket for Christmas - he loves it (despite the scowl in this picture)!


Caroling with my mom's classical guitar group


Pirateology: the funnest neverending pirate game I've ever played!

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

A Family Christmas

Last Sunday after church, Gary and I packed all our stuff into the van and headed out for the long trek down to So Cal to spend Christmas with our families. We went to Gary's family first, in order to meet up with the Bonus before he had to get back to work. We calculated that our last Christmas together was at least four years ago, before the Bonus' stint in Minnesota, so this was a very special reunion.


On Christmas eve, we spent hours telling stories and catching up, enjoyed a Christmas ham dinner with all the fixin's, traded presents, tried out Gary's new board game, and watched a silly Christmas movie. Christmas morning included more family visits, a local church service, then a hilarious trip to the park to test out the boys' new toys: remote control helicopters.


Our time together ended all too soon before it was time to say our goodbyes, get back in the van, and head to my parent's place in Simi Valley (where I'm blogging from now). We were blessed with more great eatin' (turkey this time), a visit from my brother, and more fun gifts. Gary and I gave my parents the game Hoopla, which led to much silliness and laughter. Tonight, my parents are hosting a Christmas gathering with friends and neighbors, and we look forward to the musical festivities that await.

After the busyness and stress of the past month, I've found the time away with our families to be refreshing and relaxing, and I can't help but praise God for the gift of loved ones.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Monday, December 24, 2007

Guatemala Feature in the Contra Costa Times


This week, the Contra Costa Times is running a series on Mayan immigrants from Guatemala. They are telling the stories of men that came from Lake Atitlan to the Bay Area, looking for work. This is the region of Guatemala that we did missionary work in last year, and to which we hope to return this coming summer.

You can check out the Contra Costa Times feature articles here, or see a picture slideshow here.

Saturday, December 22, 2007

How are you celebrating Christmas this year?


In the spirit of recycling, I thought I'd dust off a hardcore Christmas rant I put up on my xanga blog two Christmases ago, just as I was preparing to leave for our year long mission trip. It's a good reminder to me to see how much Christmas greed irked me as I prepared to sell my house and car to be a traveling missionary.

Now that I'm back, I don't really know how I feel about Christmas. This year, I just don't feel that 'Christmas-y'. I didn't decorate my house. I hadn't bought many presents (well, until a last-minute mall spree today). In the big scheme of things, there are so many things I'm looking forward to more than gifts (namely, returning this coming year to serve others in New Orleans and Guatemala). I will get to spend some good time with family, which I am looking forward to, but it's definitely been difficult to get a grasp on the true 'reason for the season'.

Perhaps simplification is the key...

"Bah, Humbug", or "Merry Giftmas"?

So there I was, a few days ago, listening to the Staci Orrico Christmas album, when something I heard made me stop in my tracks. In her rendition of "O Come All Ye Faithful", she sings an added line... "Jesus Christ was born on Christmas Day". Sounds religious, right? Well, let’s stop and think.... If we have Christmas to celebrate Jesus’ birth, then obviously he couldn’t be celebrated until after he was born. Additionally, scholars estimate that Jesus was actually born in the fall, not on the December 25th date we hold so sacred. So actually, Dec. 25 was designated the day that we celebrate Jesus, but has nothing to do when he was actually born. Dumb song.

Ok, so it really doesn’t matter what day we celebrate Jesus, as long as we celebrate him, right? Well, yes. But you have to realize that Christmas celebrations are nowhere to be found in scripture. Christmas day is a tradition that wasn't celebrated by Christians until the 4th century, as they attempted to inject Christian meaning into the pagan holiday Saturnalia. We as American Christians have now adopted this time of year to be the ‘season of giving’, a time to spread joy by putting up cheesy decorations and spending money we don’t have to buy people we don’t like items that they don’t need (thank you, Tyler Durden).

Just think about these typical ‘holiday’ thoughts:

*When decorating my house, an 8 foot OC Chopper Santa will look much more festive then a nativity scene.

*I must bake cookies, even though I’m always complaining how I really should lose a few pounds!

*Gotta buy my kids some really cool stuff so they’ll know how much I care. Too bad I’ll be too busy working to see them enjoy it.

*I’m so stressed out. I wish my family wasn’t expecting me to spend the holidays with them.

*You should join me in boycotting this retail establishment because they won’t say "Christmas" in their advertising.

*If I don’t get such-and-such that I really want for Christmas, I’ll just buy it for myself. In fact, I may just hit those post-Thanksgiving sales and buy it anyways.

*I need to get those 200 Christmas cards in the mail, so all these people will know how much I really care (even though I haven’t spoken to them, well, since the last Christmas card I sent them).

How is Jesus possibly glorified by these things? Is this how you would want someone to celebrate your birthday? I think not. Why then, do we show such disregard for the savior of the world? This is such a shame, because there is a real opportunity to celebrate Christ in a spiritually meaningful way. I want to show honor to Christ, but I just don’t think that Christmas as we know it is the way to go.

Perhaps we should stop thinking we’re religious because we give so many nice gifts... wasting money to satisfy greedy selfish desires is not Christlike.

Perhaps, as G-Dub suggests, instead of buying stuff at Christmas, we should sell our own belongings and give the money to the poor.

Perhaps, instead of Christmas, we could celebrate Passover with the Jews, and celebrate the fact that Christ is the lamb of God, who shed His blood to purchase our eternal life.

Luke 12:15 Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."

Matthew 19:21 Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

James 2:15-16 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?

Ok, rant over. I warned you it was hardcore! All that aside, what do YOU do to keep Christmas meaningful and enjoyable?

Friday, December 21, 2007

Hip Hop Chess Federation

"Using chess, music, and martial arts to promote unity, strategy, and non-violence..."



ht: YS Update

I think I'm in this picture...

If this pic was taken last year, I should be somewhere in that crowd. My family was standing right under the IMAX sign. I'd be the one sporting cardinal and gold...


OFFICIAL USC TROJANS PEP RALLY

On Sunday, December 30, at 6 p.m., Rose Bowl fever comes to Universal CityWalk as the USC Alumni Association presents the official Rose Bowl pep rally featuring the USC Spirit of Troy Marching Band and the USC Song Girls.

The pep rally is open to all and is free-of-charge – general parking for CityWalk is $10. Come down and celebrate all things USC with hundreds of your fellow Trojans and friends.

Monday, December 17, 2007

30 Hour Famine Report

"30 Hour Famine was amazing. I never knew that fasting for 30hrs would be that easy. I felt kinda bad the first night but then I felt really good the rest of the time but I was still tired. I had sooo much fun praising the Lord and hanging with Bryan, Josh, Carol, and the one girl who's name slips my mind. We got so much done and the dinner was soo rewarding. I'm never going to forget this."

This past weekend, G-Dub and I gathered at the church for a 30 hour fast with about 45 of our students. As part of World Vision's 30 Hour Famine program, we spent approximately 24 hours together, worshipping, playing games, and serving in our community, all while fasting and praying for world hunger.


Highlights of the event included:

-Powerful student-led worship and prayer times.
-Crazy JH games! Nuff said.
-Watching students pour into their various jobs at the Love-A-Child mission.
-HS students making a banner with their hand prints - each hand print represented 100 children that die every day due to hunger and hunger related diseases. The banner was so long it stretched allllll the way way across the front of the church.
-Great conversations with lots of different kids.
-Movie night watching Invisible Children.
-Last but not least, a phenomenal 'break the fast' meal of slow roasted chicken and mashed potatoes. Mmmmmmm...


Our weekend was not without it's unexpected twists, but God provided and everything ran smoothly. It was such a joy to see students fasting for the first time, to see their hearts touched for the poor and oppressed, and to see them so excited about making a real difference in other kids' lives with the money they raised. I am thrilled to report that at this time, our students have raised at least $3,600 , which is enough to provide for ten children for an entire year! Praise God!


This is the press release we sent out prior to the event:

Wars and natural disasters all over the world dominate the daily headlines. Behind the scenes and far from the spotlight, though, hunger and preventable diseases claim the lives of 29,000 of the world's children each day.

Right now, more than 850 million people around the world don't have enough to eat. Annually, more than 10 million children under the age of five die from disease and malnutrition as a result of hunger. But world hunger is 100% preventable and teens from Fair Oaks are ready to be a part of the solution.

This weekend, students from our junior high and high school groups will be participating in the 30 Hour Famine, an international campaign to fight world hunger. Our students will go without food for 30 hours to get a taste of what the world's poorest children and families face everyday, and to seek God's help on their behalf.

Prior to the event weekend, students have sought donations with the knowledge that every $30 they raise can help feed and care for a child for a month. Funds raised by 30 Hour Famine participants help feed and care for children in poverty-afflicted countries around the globe. 30 Hour Famine funds contribute to World Vision's response in areas where famine, conflict, and other crises make children vulnerable to hunger and preventable disease. Since 1992, 30 Hour Famine has raised more than $100 million, representing countless saved lives. World Vision works in 100 countries, helping approximately 100 million people every year.

During our event weekend, we will worship and pray together, play games, and learn about God's heart for the poor and hungry.

Students will also serve at the Love-a-Child Mission in Bay Point, a shelter for homeless women and their children. We'll be helping this incredible ministry in any way we can: preparing and serving a meal, minor construction projects, and relational ministry with the ladies who live there.

The 30-hour fast begins after lunch on Friday, so participating students shouldn't eat again after that. Junior highers will gather at the church at 6:30pm, and high school students at 9:30pm. We'll spend the night together at the church, and the event will culminate in a "Breaking the Fast" celebration meal at 6:30pm on Saturday night.

Thursday, December 13, 2007

How Do You Know?

An in-your-face video clip for people that believe they are Christians:



Readers, I would love your comments on this one:

Do you agree with Paul Washer's proclamations?
What do you think of the method of delivering the message?

ht: Anthony Jacobs

Monday, December 10, 2007

The Golden Compass


Because I am a Christian, and because I enjoy following pop culture, especially movies, I've found myself unable to escape the recent hype about "The Golden Compass". Of course, the more hype a piece of work draws, the more curious I become. And, as a person that frequently interacts with young people and their parents, I was also interested in being able to speak for myself on this movie. (For those of you that haven't read about the controversy, scroll down to see the quotes at the bottom of this post)
In any case, last week G-Dub and I found ourselves headed to the theater. I evaluated the film on two fronts: cinematic and artistic value, as well as potential areas of concern for Christian families.

As a film buff, I actually really enjoyed the first half of the film. I felt that writer/director Chris Weitz did an amazing job creating a sense of place: a parallel Earth, identifiable yet discernibly different. It carries the weight and feel of a futuristic novel from the 1800's. Oftentimes, this comes off as cheesy, but it definitely works in this movie. The casting was superb, with Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig working their delicious magic, and phenomenal newcomer Dakota Blue Richards as young Lyra.



Unfortunately, these elements aren't able to sustain the storyline once Lyra heads north with an unconvincing talking polar bear. Story elements become weaknesses when tediously overused (We're left hanging with the introduction of every new character... good guy? bad guy? Unfortunately, we never find out the answer until long after we've stopped caring). And don't even get me started on that alethiometer. Ultimately, I found the movie to be either too long, too slow, or just too boring. On this basis alone, I recommend you save your $.


As a "Christian viewer", it seems that most of the book's controversial material has been watered down or left out of the movie. At face value, I doubt one would walk out of the theater feeling offended on behalf of God or the church. That being said, there are numerous articles suggesting that this is an intentional strategy: parents see the movie, deem it harmless, then go buy the trilogy of books, much more blatant in anti-Christian propaganda.

The one aspect of the story most likely to be confusing for children is the concept of "daemons". In the movie, a person's soul lives outside of their body in the form of a talking animal companion, called a daemon. To a child, the idea of a talking furry friend would be utterly fantastic! To a Christian however, the word demon suggests evil and rebellion against God, and parents may not want to attempt explaining this dichotomy of concepts to young children.

In general, I don't tend to get on board with attacking the corrupting influence of the week. What is most dangerous to the Christian faith, I believe, is not atheists trotting out their beliefs, but Christians not living out theirs. So, before you hit "send" on that next e-mail forward demanding a boycott of this movie, why don't you stop and say a quick prayer for all those who will read the book or see the movie, that they would know the truth and experience of God's love.

What others are saying:

A concerned e-mail forwarder:

"It's one thing to be an atheist, and something else altogether to draw children in with the agenda to kill God in their formative years. Let's make this movie a failure, by letting people know what's behind it."

Blogger Andrew Seely:

"Why put so much time, effort, money into stopping such (in the grand scheme of things) trivial things? It baffles me that if we as christians spent a fraction of the time, energy and resources that we pour into stopping the major immorality of the week, we might actually do something that jesus and god are proud of."

To me it seems that when we take so much time to oppose things such as movies, the underlying tone is that we fear that god isn't strong enough to handle whatever it is that is or isn't attacking god."

One of my students:

"First off all kids should kno its just a moive and second off if ur family believes in god, then ur kids should kno that god really cant b killed. i mean how can u kill sum1 u cant see? exactly. plus if ur kids think that, theres so many ways to help them."

A synopsis of information available at snopes.com:

The movie has been described as "atheism for kids" and is based on the first book of a trilogy entitled "His Dark Materials" that was written by Phillip Pullman. Pullman is a militant atheist and secular humanist who despises C. S. Lewis and the "Chronicles of Narnia". His motivation for writing this trilogy was specifically to counteract Lewis' symbolisms of Christ that are portrayed in the Narnia series.

"Clearly, Pullman's main objective is to bash Christianity and promote atheism. Pullman left little doubt about his intentions when he said in a 2003 interview that "my books are about killing God" and in a 2001 interview that he was "trying to undermine the basis for Christian belief." He has even stated that he wants to "kill God in the minds of children". It has been said of Pullman that he is "the writer the atheists would be praying for, if atheists prayed."

Sunday, December 9, 2007

"Straight No Chaser"

These guys could come caroling at my door any day:



ht: caljoy

Saturday, December 8, 2007

Learning to Relax 101


Hello, friends. Well, for those of you that have been following along, I believe the coin funnel of my mind has quieted a bit, for now, at least.

The past couple weeks have been really rough, personally. That's not to say that a lot of great stuff hasn't happened, but man, there've been a few really hard days!

Part of the problem is that I'm coming to that place of realization that I can't do as much or run as hard as I would like. I'm a passionate person, driven to pour myself out to serve the Lord... it may sound honorable or spiritual enough, but I'm starting to find myself on that dreaded fast track to burnout.

I'm going to have to force myself to learn how to take a day off, to be ok with not constantly trying to be productive (I'll seriously have to resist some genetic forces for this to work!).

I'm going to have to take the advice of the 9th grade girl that just reminded me, "Even God rested!".

I'm going to have to learn how to 'take my thoughts captive' and fully engage in whatever I am doing at the time, to not get overwhelmed by everything else that's waiting for me.

I do have a couple strategies I'm trying:

-I've set up an office in the back bedroom, to help resist the urge to check my e-mail every 2.3 seconds.

-I've determined to develop and live by a daily schedule, to resist the paralysis brought on by 147 non-urgent but still really good things to do.

-I'm giving myself permission to chuck that schedule on the weekend, so I can sleep in and have fun and not think about important stuff, so I can come back to it refreshed, eager, and ready to change the world!

Monday, December 3, 2007

World AIDS; Every Day...


MBABANE (AFP) - Nearly a third of Swaziland's children are considered orphaned and vulnerable as AIDS takes its toll on the country, a study commissioned by the state's emergency response council said Friday.

"There are currently 130,000 OVCs (orphaned and vulnerable children) in the country, which represents 31.1 percent of all children countrywide," the study said.

"However, it is projected that the OVC figure could rise to 200,000 by the year 2010."

It added: "HIV and AIDS is permanently altering the structure of Swazi society. It is expected that by 2025 there will be a thinning of the older age groups and the very young."

Life expectancy in the country dropped from 60 years in 1997 to the world's lowest of 31.3 in 2004, while the mortality rate has sharply increased across the entire population over the past 15 years, the report added.

According to UNICEF's website, HIV prevalence among 20 to 30-year-olds is nearing 50 percent, higher than the national adult average.

In Swaziland, close to 40 percent of adults are living with HIV and AIDS, the highest infection rate anywhere in the world, UNICEF said.

Saturday, December 1, 2007

Spinning, spinning...

Do you know what a coin funnel is?


I used to see them occasionally at malls, huge funnels that you can toss your coins into. You get a quarter started at the top, and watch it make slow, looping circles. As it begins to descend through the funnel, it spins faster and faster into a vibrating hum until it finally drops through the hole at the bottom. Even as an adult, I can't help but watch, mesmerized, as the coin makes it final descent.

(If my description leaves you unsatisfied, click here for a video clip of the thing.)

Sometimes I feel as if my brain approaches thoughts the same way. I may come across an idea in something I read, or have a memorable conversation with someone, and it's as if a quarter has been set in motion.

Perhaps a week later, the same topic comes up in another article, a sermon illustration, a different conversation. The quarter is picking up some speed. Now, it's got my attention. Perhaps its a new idea to explore, or a problem to solve.

Then suddenly, it's everywhere at once. I've had several conversations, I've thought it through. I'm ready to move on. I'm no longer interested, I'm annoyed. Tired of talking, tired of thinking. The quarter is spinning so fast I can't even focus on it anymore. I couldn't catch it if I tried. All one can do is wait for it to run its course.

This is where I am now. My mind is buzzing, and I'm desperately tired of it. Depression, relationships, identity, disappointments, hope. My place in the world, and among the people who inhabit it. Spinning, spinning, no rest, no peace. I try to slow down, but I don't feel refreshed, just behind.

I both envy and disdain people who can shelve their struggles in the depths of their subconscious; then I feel guilty for good measure. That just wouldn't work for me, anwyays. I need something more real, more final. An epiphany, perhaps. Springtime of the soul. A new week. I don't know.

What I do recognize is that the peace I seek, true peace, won't be found outside the loving arms of my Father. He will hold me, He will guide me, He will help me make the best sense I can of this crazy world. I must remind myself that I'm not alone; He is with me and He understands. This is something I can hold on to and accept.

Selah.

Friday, November 30, 2007

Sigh. Whine. Complain.


Unbelievable. After a year of good health, I have managed to come down with my second cold in two weeks. Great. Last week I woke up with the worst sore throat I've ever had, on Thanksgiving Day no less.

Today, our day off, G-Dub and I had planned to string the house with Christmas lights, then spend time with a friend this evening. I've been looking forward to it all week, but this morning I woke up with that stuffiness and yuckiness that tells me I won't be doing very much today.

Yay, winter.

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Ode to an Icon


Farewell, Heather.

Thank you for making America's Next Top Model the best show of the season. We believed in you from the beginning, and you've proven you have what it takes.

Thank you for being okay with being a "geeky" girl. Who knew awkward could be so charming?

Thank you for teaching America about your Asperger's. You call it a disability, but it didn't stop you from taking slammin' photos.

Your ride may be ending a little early, but I believe we haven't seen the last of you. Rock on.







Wednesday, November 28, 2007

It's knitting needles you want, not iPhones

Believe it or not, we had the knitting class (see previous post) in the works before finding this article.

Apparently a study called D-Code was just released, an annual survey that tracks youth culture. According to the study,

"Young people's circuits are overloaded. They can't keep on top of their email, surf their Facebook, handle their Second Life avatar and upload their Flickr. They find all this technology that is designed to connect them is in fact disconnecting them. They are actually in multimedia meltdown."

The result is a knee-jerk reaction towards the less sophisticated, as young people seek temporary salvation from the cutting edge. They are being driven to activities reminiscent of their childhood and more familiar with their parents' generation. Out goes MySpace, PS2s and iPhones, and in comes knitting clubs, craft fairs and cloud appreciation societies.

..."But this is not a fight against technology – youths want to be at the leading edge, but they also need a time for back to basics, where analogue living provides some respite."

Perhaps this hunger for the tangible explains the popularity of the knitting Sunday School class. When signups began, I had expected that class to garner less interest, but so far the first ten signups have been for knitting, including three very active 6th grade boys! I am very curious to see how the class plays out over the next four weeks.

If all goes well, perhaps we should consider starting our own 'cloud appreciation society'...

Coming Attractions

Last Sunday, we concluded our second round of Sunday School "Reimagined" classes.

Instead of trying to create some 'one size fits all' program to meet the needs of all junior or senior highers (it does continue to boggle my mind that 6th grade boys and 8th grade girls are the same species, much less the same age group!), we have created various Sunday School options that students can pick from.

This past month was a shortened four week cycle, that gave students choices such as "Volleyball & Values", "JH Drama Workshop" (creating a short film for an upcoming worship night), "Guys Only / Girls Only", and "Hungry for the Kingdom" (overview on world hunger plus preparing for our upcoming 30 Hour Famine).

This Sunday we kick off our next round of classes:

Fighting Temptation: Kick Sin in the Shin

Don’t let the Devil pick on you, fight back! Find out how junior highers can deal with temptation in their lives.

In Stitches: Knit & Crochet to Warm Up America

Learn a new skill while helping those in need! We will be turning balls of yarn into 7 x 9 squares that will be joined together to make warm afghan blankets! Bring your yarn, knitting needles or hooks if ya got ‘em!

What the Heck, God? Talking to God When You’re Upset

Fact: Life is hard sometimes. Fact: God can handle our emotions. Join Pastor Gary in an exploration of some very honest Psalms.

Heaven’s Kitchen: Cooking with Donna G.

Does your gourmet cooking taste like honey and locusts? Get comfortable in the kitchen as Donna shares her insider’s secrets.

Friday, November 23, 2007

World Race 06 Video

This week marks the ONE YEAR anniversary since Gary and I arrived home from our mission trip around the world. It blows me away how quickly the time has flown by.

When we first returned to the states, we shared a slideshow with pictures from our trip at a special dinner with our supporters in Sacramento. For those of you that weren't able to join us, I finally posted our slideshow video on Youtube for all to enjoy.

Here's our video:

Breathe Africa



Here's a way to support women and children in Swaziland while getting your Christmas shopping done
:

Check out Breathe Africa.

In May 2007, members of Breathe Africa found almost 40 orphans in Nsoko, Swaziland. The children had been without food for about a week. These are the poorest of the poor, the worst we’ve seen in Swaziland. It was at that moment that we knew we needed to do something…. Presently we are helping to make sure that the children have enough food, as well as working on getting them all clothed.

We also have long term goals, as we are working on building a children’s village – it will have a community center, gardens, fish ponds, 6 – 8 homes that will house double orphans and have a mother and father in it to care for the children, a home for a gogo (grandmother), lodge (to house teams that want to come and serve), a market and café (there will be sustainability projects, so that they do not need to always rely on the support of others but can provide much of the money for themselves).

Purchasing items from Breathe Africa allows us to continue to move forward in our endeavors to provide, protect, and encourage these children and others like them.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Reflections on the Atlanta NYWC

This year, our trip to Atlanta marked the fifth time that G-Dub and I have had the privilege of attending the NYWC (Since we started in youth ministry, we’ve had to miss it twice and sorely missed it both times). It was interesting to me that this year I attended with a new perspective; the first few years I was desperate for ideas and training, this year I came with experience under my belt, but hungry for encouragement and spiritual renewal.

This need was reflected in my ‘convention highlight’ list. I didn’t attend all the seminars, and those I did attend were moderately helpful. My most memorable moments were those that made me laugh, smile and cry, and those that captured the mystery and wonder of the unique relationship we have with our Almighty God.

Here are a few standout experiences of the conference:

Critical Concerns Course with Brock Morgan and Mark Helsel: Re-thinking Traditional Youth Ministry Models - This was an in-depth seminar that led to some great conversation and laid the foundation for concepts that spanned the entire weekend. Youth ministry is a relatively new phenomenon, and it was fascinating to see how it emerged and the transitions its already undergone.

Sand Artist Joe Castillo - I had never even heard of, much less seen this incredible artistic performance in which sand is moved around on a lit table, creating moving images set to music. What a unique and stirring way to portray the Passion.




Marquis Laughlin - Marquis is a gifted performer with a unique ability to memorize and recite scripture. "Recite" is too dull a word, though, as what Marquis does is present the word of God in a way that springs to life. I've never been so enthralled with the Bible. Sunday evening, Marquis presented Genesis 12-24, all by memory. As he concluded, I couldn't believe how quickly it had gone. I had a strange conflict of emotions, impressed by Marquis' gift, sad it had concluded, wondering if the dull, boring ways we are accustomed to hearing scripture might border on the downright sinful. G-Dub and I bought a DVD to share with our youth, and had the chance to chat with Marquis for a little while. Good stuff.


Shane Claiborne - If you read Gary's post a few days ago, you know that Shane's session was the most controversial of the weekend. For whatever reason, I found Shane's reading of the sermon on the mount to be beautiful and encouraging. Of course I would love to hear about his different experiences, but instead of feeling 'ripped off', I appreciated that Shane told his story not through words but his demeanor. The way he carried himself as he walked on and off the stage. The humble and sincere tone of his voice as he read Jesus' words. The innocent joy in sharing his greatest treasure, the words of his saviour. I didn't feel preached at, but invited in.

Compassion Testimony - At the convention each year, there is always a Compassion booth encouraging attendees to sponsor a child. During one of the general sessions this year, we had the opportunity to hear from an incredible woman named Michelle who had been a Compassion child as a young girl in the Philippines. She shared her story, how she had been raised in poverty in a broken home, and really had no hope until Compassion intervened, providing her the necessities of daily living as well as the value of knowing the heavenly Father who loves her. At one point, she brought out letters she had received from her sponsor as a child, and told us through tears how she had treasured every one. It was so powerful, I can't even write this without tears coming to my eyes. I was blown away by the realization how often I underestimate the ability I have to actually change a child's future.


Worship with David Crowder - Throughout the weekend, we had the privilege of worshipping with a number of great groups, including Desperation Band, Chris Tomlin and Steve Fee. Historically, I've never clicked with the DCB live, but for whatever reason when they took the stage this weekend, I was most able to set down the burdens I've been carrying and just give them to the Lord. What a gift. There's an indescribable intensity about worshipping with thousands of other youth workers, and these times never fail to be my favorite of the convention.

Skit Guys - I've seen Tommy & Eddie perform several times now, and they never fail to make me laugh or cry with their hilarious and touching dramas. Sunday night, I was laughing so hard that tears were streaming down my face, easily the hardest I've laughed since hearing Ashley's bathtub story almost two years ago. Thanks, Skit Guys, for the joy you've brought into my life! I'll see you in April at Planet Wisdom!

Sunday, November 18, 2007

An Internal Conversation

Gary Weston writes:

If you’ve never been to Youth Specialties’ National Youth Workers’ Convention, you need to know that there are a series of General Sessions, where several thousand youth workers all gather together in one room to worship, to celebrate our calling together, and to hear from some of the best speakers in the field of youth ministry and in Christendom in general. These General Session speakers are usually quite unforgettable. And tonight’s speaker was no exception.

Tonight, we were to hear from Shane Claiborne. Shane wrote a book called Irresistible Revolution, inspired in part by his experience serving the poor alongside Mother Teresa in India. This is especially impressive in Shane’s case, because Shane did it as a teenager. He called Mother Teresa on the phone, spoke with her personally, expressed a desire to serve in her ministry, and was personally invited to do so. Shane’s book is one I’ve desired to read for a long time.

And he was speaking at NYWC tonight! Alright, I thought to myself. An opportunity to hear this important voice without actually having to read the book!

I walked into the convention hall with eager anticipation. I enjoyed hearing Third Day play, and I tolerated an overly loud worship set, knowing that Shane Claiborne was about to take the stage and drop some wisdom on us.

And to the stage he came, introduced by Youth Specialties President Mark Oestreicher sharing just a bit about him, but refraining from the rest so as to give Shane the chance to tell his own story. Up the steps and onto the platform came a lanky hippie, younger than I expected, dressed in baggy cotton pants and a plain white T-shirt, his long, brown dreadlocks tied back in a brown do-rag. I was more eager than ever now to hear what he would say.

After a fire-breathing/fire-eating demonstration (no, I’m not kidding), Shane set up a music stand podium and gathered his notes. He said, “I’d like to share with you tonight the greatest sermon ever preached.” And then, in a soft, unpretentious, Southern-accented voice, he began to read.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted…”

Oh, cool, I thought to myself. He’s going to talk about the Beatitudes and how he saw them lived out in Calcutta. That’s going to be awesome!

The reading continued.

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden…”

Oookay, my inner monologue continued. This is a big chunk of Scripture to try to handle in fifty minutes, but let’s see what he does with it.

Shane kept going.

“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder…’”

Is he going to read all of Matthew 5? Context is important, so let’s go with it.

“Be careful not to do your acts of righteousness before men, to be seen by them…”

Wait a minute. That’s Matthew 6. I don’t think he’s stopping.

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.”

He’s going to read the entire Sermon on the Mount. That’s really cool. I don’t think I’ve ever heard it read aloud at once like this. I wonder what he’ll say about it when he finishes.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth…”

Man, I forgot how long this thing is. I hope there’ll be enough time for Shane to make his point about all this.

“Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find…”

At this point, I snatched a peek at the big digital clock onstage facing Shane, the one with the big countdown timer telling him how much time he had left. It read 22 minutes and some change. Oh good, time enough to tell some stories about Mother Teresa and connect it to the Sermon on the Mount. Sweet.

“When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.”

That was cool. Now what should we know about it? I’m so curious to hear what he’ll say.

With that, Shane said, “It’s the greatest sermon ever preached, isn’t it? Jesus, give us the strength to live it today. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.”

And he went down the steps and sat down.

The countdown timer still showed eighteen minutes remaining. The crowd applauded, unsure if that was the appropriate thing to do, but not knowing how else to respond.

Tic Long, head of Events at Youth Specialties, came up on stage and asked the crowd to spend a few minutes in silent, prayerful reflection on the words of Jesus that Shane had just read. And there in the silence, I debated with myself. What had I just heard? Wasn’t this guy supposed to be a voice for social justice? Wasn’t he an acclaimed author in his own right? Then why would he choose to simply read three chapters of Scripture and sit down? I felt slighted somehow. I mean, I can read Scripture!! Tell me about Mother Teresa!!

And then, a thought rose up from my heart. It was like the voice of the Spirit. It said, “You know how you complain when people make their seminars and sermons more about themselves than about the Word of God? You know how angry you get about people either intentionally or unintentionally stealing God’s glory for themselves? What charge can you bring against this young man? He stepped aside, and put the spotlight on Jesus. He decreased, and allowed Jesus to increase. Do you condemn him for that?”

No…I don’t.

So with great humility and tenderness of heart, I say this:

Well done, Shane. Well done.

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Worship with Third Day

My favorite image from the convention thus far:



"Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens,
Your faithfulness stretches to the skies..."

Friday, November 16, 2007

Blogging Blindly

Though my airline security incident (detailed in my previous post) was inconvenient, it was not as costly as my most recent mishap will turn out to be.

You see, after I got out of the shower this morning, I put in my contacts, rinsed out my contact case, then dried my face with a towel. Just like any other ordinary morning. As I set the towel down, however, I realized that I could only see out of one eye. Hmm. My right contact had somehow disappeared into thin air! It must have somehow popped out and gotten rinsed down the drain. Argh.

So here I am, stuck wearing my glasses for the entire rest of the convention. Those of you who know me recognize that I usually avoid wearing my glasses whenever possible, as I hate having to look through them. But, it’s better than the alternative, peering through my left eye while completely blind in the right.

(Unless I had an eye patch, then I could just claim to be a pirate! Yarrrr!)

Misadventures of a so-called seasoned traveler, part two

Continued, from part one...

Once we boarded the train and settled in, we figured the excitement was behind us. This turned out to be not quite true, unfortunately. We deboarded at ‘Seffo’, checked our luggage, and headed towards security. The line was short, so we figured we were good. Until the security guard checked my driver’s license gave me a funny look and asked if I had an alternative form of ID. Yeah… no. Didn’t think to bring my passport for a domestic flight.

Turns out, my driver’s license had just expired six days earlier, on my birthday. So, in addition to having to say GOODBYE to my twenties (sniff), turning thirty also means I have been driving illegally! Dangit! Isn’t the DMV supposed to send me a little form thingy in the mail for situations like this? C’mon, where are my tax dollars at work? And now what was I supposed to do? Would I miss my flight?

PTL, American Airlines did not automatically boot this distraught thirty-year-old with the recently expired ID. Instead, they sent me to the secondary screening to check me for bomb residue. The security personnel ushered me into a phone booth-like glass chamber, warned that I was about to be SHOT with super-power air vents, and recommended I hold my shirt down! Puffs of air shot up at me from the floor, then a little machine analyzed the air for any trace of residue. A weird experience, to be sure, but in a surprisingly short amount of time, they fortunately determined I was not a terrorist and sent me on to my flight.

The good news is, the excitement ended there, and we were able to enjoy a smooth flight through Chicago (yes, I can now say I’ve been in Chicago!) to our final destination here in Atlanta.

I do plan to blog throughout the convention, and look forward to sharing more stories of our experience throughout this weekend. (As soon as I get more time to write, I hope to blog about my visit with world race teammates Laura and Ashley, as well as some tidbits from our “Critical Concerns Course”, an eight hour in-depth look at youth ministry models. It’s been good stuff.)

Misadventures of a so-called seasoned traveler, part one

Hello friends! I am happy to report Gary and I have safely arrived in Atlanta, Georgia, and have been enjoying a wonderful trip so far.

Following our youth program Tuesday evening (yes, talking about YOU KNOW, fortunately reported “not awkward at all”, by one of our eight graders to her mom), we immediately hopped over to the BART station to catch a ride to the San Francisco airport (apparently pronounced ‘Seff-o’ by locals). Ah, the joy of public transportation in the Bay Area, with its inherent invitation to people-watch. I find myself always intrigued… sometimes scared… usually enlightened. This trip was no exception.

This time, my eye happened to be caught by a particular gentleman on the other side of the track. To my surprise, this older man, wearing a beige trench coat, decided to pass the time by doing pushups on a bench! Hey, as long as you’re hanging out, waiting for a train, you might as well get fit in the process, right? Pretty cool for an old dude.

Right about then, a couple of cops ran past us followed by a team of paramedics. They rushed to the bench on our right, and began to assist a woman who had been sitting there since we’d arrived. I had seen her, but she had been waiting calmly and did not appear in any distress. Gary and I looked towards her, concerned and yes, curious, when Gary exclaimed, “Hey, that’s Jim! That guy goes to our church!” Turns out the lead paramedic was someone Gary had recently met.

Now, here’s the strange thing. Most people, if one happened to bump into them while working, would be able to stop and exchange a few pleasantries. Not so much with the paramedics. They’re kinda busy. So here we are, watching Jim do his job not ten feet away, without being able to acknowledge him. And really, the next time we see him, what would we say? “Remember the woman at the BART station? Yeah, we were watching you. Good job with the life-saving!” What’s EMT etiquette here? I just don’t know.

I glanced back over at Old Trench Coat Dude. He didn’t seem too concerned with the sick lady. He had finished his pushups and moved on to squats.

To be continued…

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Atlanta, here I come!

I'm so close to my trip to Atlanta, I can almost taste it!

In just a few minutes, junior higher will began converging on our home for youth group. We're doing a series on 1 & 2 Corinthians, and tonight's lesson just happens to be on sexual purity. Always an interesting topic with junior highers!

As soon as youth group ends, we will hop in the car of one of our students, and her mom will whisk us to the BART station, which will take us to SFO in time for our red-eye flight through Chicago! We should arrive in Atlanta about 9:30 tomorrow morning.

We plan on renting a car and driving out to our friend's place in Gainesville. Hopefully we'll get to take a nap, then spend the afternoon touring around and catching up. Thursday morning we head back to Atlanta for the beginning of the NATIONAL YOUTH WORKERS CONVENTION!!!! Ok, I'm a little excited.

I plan to blog from the convention so I can tell you all the exciting stuff I get to do and learn.

Stay posted!

To all list-makers out there...


When comparing yourself to the cast of "Friends", do you see yourself in the neurotic, control-freak Monica?

Or do you simply embrace list-making as a way to bring order and focus to your day?

Either way, you would probably get a kick out of this site.

www.todolistblog.com is a blog dedicated to the revered "to-do list". They welcome and publish to-do lists of all sorts submitted by readers. Apparently, the site has been so popular that they have turned their collection of lists into a BOOK! (Now, that's being productive!)

Rate Your Blog

For all you bloggers out there, here's a tool to tell you the 'readability' of your blog. I have to say, I wouldn't have expected a 'postgrad' reading level, but, who knows who makes these things up? (And still, I can't resist...)

cash advance

ht: Marko

Monday, November 12, 2007

Smile!

Do you ever feel like God is smiling down on you?


ht: Gary Sr.

Friday, November 9, 2007

Happy Birthday to me!

As many of you know, G-Dub and I just celebrated our thirtieth birthdays (he is only 9 days older than me). For his big day, I schemed with out of town friends to surprise him with a fun birthday weekend. This week, for me, Gary put together a wonderful day trip to Napa for a birthday ride on the wine train!


Since we arrived in Concord about 9 months ago, we haven't really gotten around to doing much exploring (I guess traveling through 23 countries last year got it out of our system!). I knew Napa wasn't too far, but it hadn't really sunk in that we're only a 45 minute drive away from the beautiful rolling hills of Napa Valley. Now that we've been, I hope to return much more often!

Anyways, our afternoon on the train was wonderful. We enjoyed a delicious meal in the elegant dining car... sampled fantastic varieties of red wine... made new friends... relaxed in the lounge and watched the countryside go by as we ate fresh creme brulee. We had a fabulous day, the most fun we've had just the two of us in a while!

Without further ado, here are a few more pictures from our afternoon on the wine train:












Thank you, Gary!